Jenise-We have a small monthly luncheon group with rules that clearly stipulate that the first person to touch/answer/fondle their phone picks up the tab. No exceptions. Amazing how that simple rule eliminates the phone issue at the table.

"...To undersalt deliberately in the name of dietary chic is to omit from the music of cookery the indispensable bass line over which all tastes and smells form their harmonies." -- Robert Farrar Capon

I plead guilty to using my phone to capture photos of food (even at home, when it comes out looking nice.. and so does Bueker). Often times, it is a way for me to remember what I've eaten. At one place in particular (Playground in Santa Ana), some of the dinners can stretch to 15 courses, and there is no menu. So, if I have any hope of remembering all we ate, I either take notes (which I lose) or photos.

Jenise wrote: But then, that may be because I'm the only person left who doesn't have a smart phone.

You're not the only one. We recently switched servers so we could use the phone in the house and not drive up the nearest hill to do so. They wanted to sell us a smart phone, but we ended up with the smartest dumb phone available. Price had nothing to do with it. It is all about our 75 year old tech level. We have just about enough know how to use about half the features on the new dumb phone.

Agree with David that if we are eating in a hole in wall, particularly if we are expecting a call, we will leave the phone on.

Jeff Grossman/NYC wrote:When I dine alone, it's on the table. When I dine with other people, it's in my pocket.

Bingo! As discussed on the radio program associated with that website, one of the points of dining with others is the human interaction that ensues. One of our good friends had no compunction about taking phone calls or texting while dining with us (even at our house) and the withering looks she's received from us have made it clear that such behavior is not appreciated. She now behaves herself.

David M. Bueker wrote:Phone stays in my pocket until the wife and I start trying to remember who was the guy who starred in that movie...then Google...

Of course we rarely do fine dining (I prefer to cook), so this situation is at our local Chinese or Mexican hole in the wall.

The reference tool I get. But, outside of rare circumstances like you're waiting for the dealer to call and let you know if you can pick up your car today or not kind of thing, do you take calls? (If the landline at home rings in the middle of a meal, we don't take those calls either.)

My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov

I'm often (usually) on call when I have groups out. If I think it's likely I'll get an important call, I apologize in advance to my dining partners. If I get a call I excuse myself and go outside to talk. I don't usually consult my phone otherwise, unless it's to check calendar as we are discussing a future date.

David M. Bueker wrote:Phone stays in my pocket until the wife and I start trying to remember who was the guy who starred in that movie...then Google...

Of course we rarely do fine dining (I prefer to cook), so this situation is at our local Chinese or Mexican hole in the wall.

The reference tool I get. But, outside of rare circumstances like you're waiting for the dealer to call and let you know if you can pick up your car today or not kind of thing, do you take calls? (If the landline at home rings in the middle of a meal, we don't take those calls either.)

Get rid of the landline and you'll have more money for good Champagne, Sherry and fresh fish.

David M. Bueker wrote:Phone stays in my pocket until the wife and I start trying to remember who was the guy who starred in that movie...then Google...

Of course we rarely do fine dining (I prefer to cook), so this situation is at our local Chinese or Mexican hole in the wall.

The reference tool I get. But, outside of rare circumstances like you're waiting for the dealer to call and let you know if you can pick up your car today or not kind of thing, do you take calls? (If the landline at home rings in the middle of a meal, we don't take those calls either.)

Get rid of the landline and you'll have more money for good Champagne, Sherry and fresh fish.

LOL! Indeed, we need to do that.

My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov

If it's a typical night out, I have no idea where the hell my phone is. It might be in my pocket, if I remembered to put it there. It might be in my car if I stuck it on the charger on the drive over. It might be at home somewhere.

Even if it's in my pocket, it's probably lost its charge by the time I'm going out to dinner.

Going to Volt for Easter dinner. Phone will be out of sight with the ringer turned off; I will not look at it, I will not even check the time...I will forget I have it. The only reason I'll have it is in case one of the kids call at which point I will leave the room or call back later.

(As an aside - IMO, the best scene in the TV show "Sopranos" was when a guy wears a hat at a table in Tony's restaurant. Tony tells him to take it off and he does. That's it, that's the scene. Where's Tony when you need him!)

At events I organize, the only thing anyone uses a phone for is to take notes on the wines.If they should have it on and the get a call (which is not normal - even the gusy whose wives were about to produce kids kept them off the table and one turned his back on after lunch to see if he was a Papa yet) they step away from the table. Simple courtesy.

Easter was celebrated with my 87 year old mother and her gentleman friend at her retirement community, Oak Crest, which sports several restaurants for the residents. We dined in the Windows restaurant which served a fabulous buffet with the best lamb chops I've ever enjoyed. My 18yo niece, my God child, home from college and my 16yo nephew were "phone zombies" thru the entire meal and after meal visit with the family. I only get to see my sister's family half a dozen times a year and I was rather pissed at my niece and nephew, but kept it to myself less ruin the day for my mother. I will talk in private to my sister about this.

Drew Hall wrote:Easter was celebrated with my 87 year old mother and her gentleman friend at her retirement community, Oak Crest, which sports several restaurants for the residents. We dined in the Windows restaurant which served a fabulous buffet with the best lamb chops I've ever enjoyed. My 18yo niece, my God child, home from college and my 16yo nephew were "phone zombies" thru the entire meal and after meal visit with the family. I only get to see my sister's family half a dozen times a year and I was rather pissed at my niece and nephew, but kept it to myself less ruin the day for my mother. I will talk in private to my sister about this.

Don't blame you! Have an acquaintance who does this at dinner parties. He has "over 4000" friends on Facebook he says, and can seemingly barely tear himself away for long enough to have dinner with friends. It's not just a kid thing! (But how cool that you can have such good food at your mother's retirement community. My experience with such food is that it's at best one step up from hospital food.)

My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov

Jenise said: (But how cool that you can have such good food at your mother's retirement community. My experience with such food is that it's at best one step up from hospital food.)

They have a terrific chef and he shines on holidays and special occasions. The lamb chops were 2" thick, just barely medium rare and incredibly tender with a beautiful demi glace. Some of the standouts were cold smoked salmon, waldorf salad, a beautiful mixed green and baby spinach salad with strawberries and maytag blue cheese, fresh asparagus with just the correct crunch, assorted cheeses and fruits. Other main courses were poached salmon, ham, sautéed chicken and carved turkey. One failure though were the canned string beans, and the assorted breads, rolls and muffins were wonderful. I can't imagine that they bake on premises but the quality of the breads were so good that I have to find out where they acquire them.

My folks also have wonderful food at their retirement communities. The standard dining rooms are quite good and they also have a "jacket required" dining room that serves stuff that's as good as many high end restaurants. I haven't eaten there on a major holiday but my parents have high praise for those meals as does my sister. They also do periodic chef's nights, where they'll have a local chef come in and put together a meal with wine pairings.

The food was one of the main reasons they chose to live in this community.